Sydney QF First Lounge v Emirates Business Lounge

[Tropic]

Universe

 

[milandro]

Visiting the QF First Lounge 5-8 times a year, I noticed that it is not the First QF Lounge it used to be. Tonight I travel on a EK flight with a QF number so I went to QF First Lounge first to have my favourite salt & pepper squid, but was disappointed with the "enhanced" selection of champagnes & wines.
As my flight to Dubai is delayed at least 30 minutes I went to visit the Emirates Business Lounge and found it far more superior to QF First Lounge. There was a good selection of food and the choices of wines and champagnes is much more attractive than in the the QF First Lounge.
Wondering what others think???

Not sure anyone could consider the EK lounge at SYD can come even close to Qantas First when it has a buffet vs a la carte menu, machine coffee vs barista and self-serve drinks vs tended bar.

Did the comparison again myself recently just to check Qantas was still the best option and saw nothing (other than the Champagne) to suggest otherwise...

 

[boomy]

The wine selection may be better at Emirates but I go to QF because of the the things Emirates represents.

Good to see people have high moral values. Hope you also make sure not to buy anything made in China. You know, because of the things China represents

 

[Tropic]

Not sure anyone could consider the EK lounge at MEL can come even close to Qantas First when it has a buffet vs a la carte menu, machine coffee vs barista and self-serve drinks vs tended bar.

Did the comparison again myself recently just to check Qantas was still the best option and saw nothing (other than the Champagne) to suggest otherwise...

My comments upthread related to EK premium offerings overall. While any lounge usually provides a nicer place to wait for your flight than out on the concourse, given I spend way more time in the air than I do stewing in a pool of champers in the lounge, its the quality of F/B offering and customer service inflight that I score on - and I reckon EK (with a few rare exceptions) generally beats the pants off QFi on both counts in J/F. Just my opinion of course...

 

[Matt_01]

I personally don’t mind the EK lounges, in my experience they are cookie cutter and pretty much the same in any location other than DXB. Then again I spent way to much time in lounges to actually care anymore.

 

[UP4014]

Good to see people have high moral values. Hope you also make sure not to buy anything made in China. You know, because of the things China represents

I do indeed, I’m someone who bought a spare Westinghouse Australian made fridge before the Orange factory closed. It’s in storage waiting it’s time in the sun.

I’ve found searching out and buying smart has served me well when it comes to lifecycle costs and product longevity.

 

[PDog]

I do indeed, I’m someone who bought a spare Westinghouse Australian made fridge before the Orange factory closed. It’s in storage waiting it’s time in the sun.

I’ve found searching out and buying smart has served me well when it comes to lifecycle costs and product longevity.

totally off topic, but I have that fridge (in use, not a spare sadly) and it’s an absolute cracker. Your foresight has won you the internet tonight, congrats!

 

[PineappleSkip]

Averse I reckon. Never heard of an adversion!

Never tried the SYD EK lounge, but I’d rank the BNE EK lounge on par with the revamped QF lounge. Better wines in EK but gets rather crowded. Far superior to QF’s former F broom cupboard.

Never thought about it before, but on reflection I’d rather sit in the QF BNE lounge than the SYD F lounge. Love the choice of stalls or dress circle upstairs to watch the crowds in the orchestra pit with a view of planes thrown in.

QF better than EK on a lot of occasions. Every ride on an EK 777, the majority of their fleet, in either J or Y, is guaranteed awfulness.

Cheers skip

 

[Tropic]

Averse I reckon. Never heard of an adversion!

Never tried the SYD EK lounge, but I’d rank the BNE EK lounge on par with the revamped QF lounge. Better wines in EK but gets rather crowded. Far superior to QF’s former F broom cupboard.

Never thought about it before, but on reflection I’d rather sit in the QF BNE lounge than the SYD F lounge. Love the choice of stalls or dress circle upstairs to watch the crowds in the orchestra pit with a view of planes thrown in.

QF better than EK on a lot of occasions. Every ride on an EK 777, the majority of their fleet, in either J or Y, is guaranteed awfulness.

Cheers skip

Interested how you find CX, AY and JL offerings in J and F Skip?

 

[amaroo]

Adverse or averse?

Both - LOL

Mustard is such a horrid colour it needs two words

 

[Altair]

I prefer the QF First Lounge. I rarely drink alcohol so that is not part of my equation.
I am very familiar with both lounges in SYD and will use to the QF First Lounge when possible.
I prefer my food hot and the EK buffet generally does not guarantee that. I usually arrive a 4:00 pm and they have just finished setting up the buffet as well.
QF First Lounge has a better ambience, but of course I am not there at peak periods and when I have been, yep it is a zoo but not quite a QP.
Now whether the Qantas International Lounge is better than an EK Lounge....no contest EK all the way. In fact I would unlikely visit the QF lounge even if I had access.

 

[2PAXfly]

But the EK lounge in Sydney has that beautiful rock fountain. How can you compare that to the bland bespoke design of the QF first lounge (tongue firmly in cheek)

 

[PineappleSkip]

Interested how you find CX, AY and JL offerings in J and F Skip?

F lounges? CX great, AY premium lounge OK, never travelled JL in any class. Pretty much the same for CX and AY J flights.

 

[JohnK]

I'm glad I don't drink wine/champagne as it can be so restrictive to lounge choices. At least most vodkas/gins taste the same so I can focus on which lounge has the better food.

In BKK it's EK lounge, SIN it's EK lounge, HKG it's either EK or QF lounge or both, BNE it's EK lounge but SYD/MEL it's the QF First lounge.

 

[Rangalad]

I'm glad I don't drink wine/champagne as it can be so restrictive to lounge choices. At least most vodkas/gins taste the same so I can focus on which lounge has the better food.

In BKK it's EK lounge, SIN it's EK lounge, HKG it's either EK or QF lounge or both, BNE it's EK lounge but SYD/MEL it's the QF First lounge.

Always had a good feed at EK SIN lounge. IIRC QF closed the BKK lounge.